Sylvester Stallone posing in character as Rocky Balboa in the boxing film, 'Rocky.' The musical has been a knock-out in Germany. / AP

by Elysa Gardner, USA TODAY

by Elysa Gardner, USA TODAY

None other than Rocky Balboa, hero of the 1976 Cinderella hit that made Sylvester Stallone a superstar. It was announced Sunday that a musical adaptation of Rocky, the story of a small-time boxer who gets a shot at the big time, will arrive on the Great White Way next spring - and with a creative team packed with name talent.

The new show, which had its world premiere last year in Hamburg, Germany, features a book by Thomas Meehan (Annie, The Producers, Hairspray), music and lyrics by, respectively, Stephen Flaherty and Lynn Ahrens (Ragtime, Once on This Island) and direction by Alex Timbers (Bloody Bloody Andrew Jackson, Peter and the Starcatcher.)

Stallone, who both starred in and wrote the Oscar-winning screenplay for the film, said in a statement that he "couldn't be more proud or more excited about this production and how my original story of Rocky Balboa has been brought to spectacular life onstage. The story of Rocky was very much like my life at the time - starting out with nothing, having to fight for roles and recognition. So I put those feelings into the body of a boxer, and I had no idea there were so many millions of people that felt the same way."

Rocky is set to begin previews next February and open in March at the Winter Garden Theatre.